The pathogenicity and immunosuppression to layer chickens induced by the IBDV novel variant strain SHG19. (A) The BW of 42-day-old SPF layer chickens. (B) The BBIX values of the infected and control groups of vaccinated SPF layer chickens at 21 d p.i.. (C) The spleen/BW ratio at 21 d p.i.. (D) Antibodies titer to the ND vaccine of layer chickens determined by homologous HI assay. The mean value and SD (error bars) from 10 independent samples are shown (∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01; NS, not significant). Abbreviations: BBIX, bursa:BW index; d p.i, days post-infection; HI, hemagglutination inhibition; IBDV, infectious bursal disease virus; ND, Newcastle disease; SPF, specific pathogen free.